ABSTRACT
Bioadhesive polymers have generated considerable interest as a way to substantially improve the performance of controlled delivery systems. This chapter focuses on a relatively new way to deliver drugs to the eye, namely employing a polymer that attaches, in non-covalent form, to tissues in the front of the eye, a bioadhesive dosage form. The attachment of natural and synthetic polymers to biological substrates is also old, as demonstrated with the use of the bioadhesive, polymerized maleic anhydride for denture retention. Bioadhesives have been shown to have the potential of giving enhanced drug availability through their ability to increase the residence time of a drug. Adhesive strength increases with molecular weight until a critical limit is reached beyond which little improvement in bioadhesive strength is seen. The bioadhesive properties of fibrin have also been proven to be useful in preventing bleeding and reestablishing attachment and adhesion of the conjunctiva in retinal detachment, strabismus, and cataract surgery.
